cowles



Feb. 3, 1931. E. cOwLEs 1,790,902

WASHING MACHINE l Filed Feb. 27. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 3, 1931.

E. cowLEs 1,790,902

WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vParenteel Feb. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFI-"1c ZEIDVsTIN COWLES, v0T? SHORT HILLS, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO COWLES ENGINEERING CORPORATION, OF SEWAREN, vNEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION F. NEW JERSEY WASHING MACHINE Application filed February 27, 1929. Serial 310.1342963.

This invention relates to fabric washing machines and has as an object to provide a machine which is capable of washingfabrics thoroughly and quickly and with minimum l wear and tear.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine in which the washing action is solely due to agitation of the liquid in which the fabrics are immersed, said agita- 3@ tion being produced by means of a jet or jets of liquid. lt is a further object of the invention to prevent matting of the fabrics being washed against the outlet opening through which liquid is withdrawn to supply the said jet or jets.

Other objects and advantages oi the in- Y vention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected ior purposes of illustration is shown to in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view oi the machin -f Figure 2 isa side elevation.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section 215 on the line 3 3 of Figure 1, and

Figure l is a vertical transverse section on the line 1 -4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a supporting framework including aehorizontal angle bars 1, 2 and 3, forming a base for the machine, and vertical angle bars i which serve to support the tub 5.v Preferably the upper ends of the vertical angle bars d may be connected by horizontal angle bars, 6 thus giving the framework substanial rigidity and irmness. 7l`he tub 5 may be of any suitable material, but is preferably of cast'iron coated on its interior surfaces with be understood that for certain purposes one -nozzle may be sucient, or if desired the number of nozzles may be increased.

Connected to the intake side of the pump 7 is a conduit 14 which extends upwardly for connection with an outlet opening 15 in the bottom of the tub 5 through which opening the liquid in the tub may be withdrawn when the pump is operated.

Located within the tub 5 in such manner as todivide the tub into two compartments isa plate or screen 16 which said plate is provided withra large number of openings or perforations 17 through which liquid may pass freely from one compartment to the other. lf desired, the plate 16 ma be edged -V with canvas 17 or other suitable u'er material. l

ln the form of the invention illustrated herein, the plate 16 acts in the nature' oi a false bottom for the tub 5, and, it will be observed, the nozzles 12 and 13 are located on one side of the said plate or in the upper compartment, while the outlet opening 15 is located on the other side of the plate 16 or in the lower compartment. The reasons fior this arrangement will be set forth more in detail hereinafter.

The operating controls for the machine are preferably collected together on one side oi the machine so as to be within convenient reach of the operator. Flhe lever 2() is connected by means of rod 21 with a belt shifting mechanism 22 and by shifting the lever 20 from one side to another the operator is enabled to start or stop the pump at will ln cases where the pump is to be driven by an electric .motor the lever 20 and its associated connections would be replaced, of course, by an electric switch.

The knob `23 is connected by means oi a rod 2t with thel lever 25 which serves to control valve 9, the said valve being a gate valve by means of which the volume of iiow through the nozzles 12 and 13 may be controlled. Motion of the knob 23 in one direction serves to close the valve while motion of the knob 23 in the opposite direction serves to open the valve.

Lever 25 is the operating control for thel icc valve 26 which may be called the dump valve of the machine. As will be observed, valve 26 is connected by the conduit 27 with the discharge side of the pump 7 and by opening valve 26 and at the same time closing valve 9, the liquid contents of the tub may be supply.

` counter-clockwise It is also desirable in cases Where the machine is to be used for dry cleaning to provide a grounding element such as the chain E31 which may beconnected at one end to the plate 16 and at the other end to the discharge opening 15.

In operation, the valve 26 may be closed and the tub may then be lled With liquid to the desired level. The pump may then be started. and the valve 9 may be opened to the desired extent to permit the desired rate -of How through the nozzles 12 and 13.l As -Will be observed, due to the off-set relationship of thenozzles 12 and 13, the contents of the tub will be caused to circulate in a direction as seen in Figure 1. I

The reasons for the arrangement of the nozzles 12 and 13 and the outlet opening-15 on opposite sides of the perforated plate 16 will now be apparent. As will be observed, the Washing principle involved is simply that of liquid agitation, the said agitation being supplied by the liquid streams or jets which are ejected from the nozzles 12 and 13. EX- cept for the provision of the plate 16, the

fabrics contained in the tub would immediately be drawn in the direction of the outlet opening 15 and Would collect and mat over this opening, eventually clogging it and preventing effective operation of the machine. It Will be understood. however, that because of the large number of perforations in the plate 16, the rate of flow of liquid through the perforations in the direction of the opening 15 is very slow', and since the liquid jets bination, a tub, a false bottom for said tub,

said false bottom having a series of perforations therein, a discharge nozzle adjacent said false bottom and positioned to discharge a stream of liquid along the surface of sald false bottom, and an outflow opening in said tub beneath said false bottom.

v2. A Washing machine comprising, in combination, a tub, a false bottom for said tub` said false bottom having a series of perforations therein, a discharge nozzle adjacent said false bottom and positioned to discharge a stream of liquid in close proximity and sub- -v stantially parallel to said false. bottom, and an outflow opening on said tub beneath said false bottom.

3. A Washing machine comprising, in combination, a tub, a false bottom for said tub, said false bottom having a series of perforations therein,`a pump, a nozzle connected to the dischargeside of said pump and located adjacent said false bottom and positioned to discharge a stream of liquid along the surface of said false bottom, andan opening in said tub beneath said-'false bottom connected to the intake side of said pump.

4. A Washing machine comprising, in combination, a tub, a falsebottom for said tub,- said false bottom having a series of perforations therein, a pump, a, nozzle connected to said pump and positioned to discharge a stream of liquid in close proximity to and substantially parallel to said false bottom, and an opening in said tub beneath said false bottomconnected to the intake side of said pump.

5. A Washing machine comprising, in combination, a tub, a false bottom for said tub, said false bottom having a seriesof perforations therein, a discharge nozzle adjacent said false bottom and positioned to discharge a stream' of liquid along the surface of said false bottom, an outflow opening in said tub beneath said false bottom,and means for controlling the rate of How of liquid through said nozzle. 4

6. A washing machine comprising, in combination, a tub, a false bottom for said tub, said false bottom having a series of perforations therein, a pump, a nozzle connected to the dischar e side of said pump and positioned to disc arge a stream of liquid along the surface of 'said false bottom, an opening in said tub beneath said false bottom connected to the intake side of said pum and means for controlling the rate of ow of li uid through said nozzle. Y

(1?. A washing machine comprisingvaftub,

means for agitating the contents of said tub, comprising a pump and a nozzle connected thereto, a perforated plate spaced from one side of said tub, said nozzle being arranged adjacent to and in position to direct a stream of liquid along the surface of said plate, and an outlet opening from said tub having connection with the intake of said pump, said outlet opening being located on the opposite side of said plate from said nozzle.

8. A washing machine comprising, a tub, a perforated plate dividing said tub into two compartments, a pump, a nozzle connected to said pump and located in one of said compartments and arranged to direct a stream of liquid along the surface of said perforated plate, and an outlet opening connected to said pump and located in the other compartment.

9. A washing machine comprising a tub, a perforated plate dividing said tub into two compartments, a pump, a nozzle connected to said pump and located in one of said compartments in close proximity to said plate and arranged t0 direct a stream of liquid along the surface of said plate and substantially parallel thereto, and an outlet opening connected to said pump and located in the other compartment.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 25th day of February, 1929.

EDWIN CQWLES. 

